Lagos Governor, Ambode Urges Graduates to Adjust to Ever-Changing World by Generating Wealth

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday called on graduates of tertiary institutions to adjust to ever-changing world by generating wealth and employment opportunities.

Ambode gave the advice at the 26th convocation ceremony of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos.

The governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, said that they should create employment opportunities where none existed.

The governor pledged that he would continue to invest substantial amount of resources in the education sector to enrich the pool of human resources from the state institutions.

According to him, no society can ever develop without good investment in the education of its citizens, or provide enabling environment for ideas to thrive.

“You should take advantage of the training and skills acquired to become employers of labour.

”The economic climate of the nation requires young vibrant entrepreneurs who are determined to create wealth and employment opportunities.

”You are to create employment opportunities where none exists and to constantly adjust to the dynamics of the market to drive investment and economic empowerment for many others.

”You should make the best use of your time to improve yourself constantly in this ever-changing world, ” Ambode said.

He pledged to move education from mere certificate to the level of technology and skills acquisition, mentorship for entrepreneurial and economic empowerment.

In his remarks, Mr Samuel Sogunro, the Polytechnic Rector, appreciated the governor for his attention to the needs of the institution.

Sogunro urged the graduates to utilise the theoretical, practical and entrepreneurial skills acquired from the polytechnic to be job creators, and not to be white-collar job seekers.

”By becoming job creators, you would be playing your part in stemming down the level of hopelessness which is prevalent among young graduates who seek the non-readily available white-collar jobs, ” he said.

Sogunro announced Omotoyosi Fatogun as the overall best graduating student with Cumulative Grade Point Aggregate (CGPA) of 3.81 in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Department of Science Laboratory Technology.

Also, Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, the Chairman, Governing Council of the Polytechnic, commended Ambode for dedicating 12.7 per cent of the 2018 state budget to education.

Gbadamosi pledged to partner with the government in addressing many of the challenges that affected the development of the state and the country at large.

Commenting, Fatogun said that her success was not by accident, but by dint of hard work, divine grace and ultimate blessings of the Almighty.

On behalf of the graduates, she promised that they would be good ambassadors of the polytechnic and the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 6, 355 students graduated from the polytechnic, out of which 211 earned distinctions, while 1,368 made Upper Credit, 3,505 students made lower credit and 1,271 obtained Pass.